Yamaha is an interesting company, isn’t it? It makes all kinds of things and tends to be pretty good at making those things, but doesn’t seem to be very good about keeping track of those things or effectively telling their stories.
Here’s an example. Sitting next to me as I write this is a probably-1969 YSL-352S trombone. If you know any musicians ─ be they string, woodwind, percussion, or brass players ─ you will be aware that we are all convinced that the age of our instrument has a direct and causal link to the quality of our playing (Older = better). But I am unable to know exactly how good I am when I play this horn because Yamaha doesn’t keep records of serial numbers going back that far (I have asked). My assumption that it is a 1969 model comes largely from guesswork and collating anecdotes from forums.
When it comes to learning about Yamaha motorcycles from the same era, the ‘tuning fork company’ is a little more helpful but similar tactics are necessary. So, if you happen to be one of the world’s foremost experts on the YDS-5, I apologize if I get any information wrong. If you aren’t an expert, feel free to take what I say with a grain of salt.
As far as I can tell, however, the YDS-5 was the culmination of the YDS series that had begun in 1962. It may have only had this name in Europe and the Americas; in Japan and elsewhere, it seems, it was known as the DS5-E.
Whatever you call it, the bike was driven by a 247cc air-cooled two-stroke parallel twin engine that promised 21.7 kW of power (29.1 hp) at 8000 rpm. In Europe, the YDS-5 cost notably more than local competition but vindicated itself by offering better handling and reliability.
It appears the YDS-5 was sold from 1967-1970. Rear suspension was three-way adjustable and an electric start came standard, as did the racing-inspired Autolube system, which saved riders the trouble of having to mix fuel themselves.
This particular example was restored 10 years ago, according to its seller, and has surprisingly low mileage.
One other interesting fact: I’ve searched through the voluminous archives of Bike-urious and, amazingly, it appears this is the first time that a Yamaha YDS-5 has ever featured on this site!
You can find this YDS-5 for sale in Peekskill, New York for $2,800 here on Facebook Marketplace.